Slimming - will switch to ketogenic diet

Sometime a July post in FB by a friend (neighbour) on her slimming (better health) journey made me want to go on a ketogenic diet. I saw her changes within a span of 4 - 5 days (sometime in June) she went down by approximately 1 kg. That's very motivating. I mean I struggle like shit for more than a year and can't get anything down except for that nice dress which was stuck down at my legs just coz I can't pull them up to try.  

Friends who have known me for long will know that I'm not a blessed person when it comes to managing my weight. From a 53-55kg in my last year in SQ aka pre-pregnancy to now weighing a huge 79 kg. My weight, my size has definitely made me lose confidence in myself, made finding clothes difficult that I really can't be bothered to go shopping since I can't blardy fit into that nice dress or that nice top or that casual shorts (my giganteus thighs will show)

It wasn't just the weight, it was the sight of me that's terrifying. 
1) can't see collar bones now
2) big elephant thighs
3) big tummy (that I had a ticketing staff running to me after check-in asking me how many months pregnant I was wtf)  

4) big butt (but I suspect that it was partially caused by me sitting down too much - ehh.... those days when I was really hands on with the girls' academics. Sat down next to them to coach them, to mark their assigned work when they're having tuition/enrichment lessons)

5) fat face

Slimming attempts though wasn't that hardcore strict on myself

My slimming journey so far has included cupping (sometime in 2008? or 2009?) and I managed to slim down, but after that when I was so stressed up with academic (when che-che was in P4/5? 2012/2013 ).when school work gets tougher and more, and with me spending more time coaching and neglecting self in the process - boom! the weight went up gradually again. 

Then I went for second cupping package but it didn't help. Too many factors hindered - stress, hormonal changes, eating my meals too quickly always rushing around, late nights, insufficient sleep (running on a 3-4 hr sleep battery for many years)

Cupping provides effective slimming treatment since it stimulates acupressure points and runs them along the body’s lymphatic lines. Traditional Chinese Medicine says that excess fat and slow metabolism are a result of stagnant qi. The restricted movement of qi results in ‘dampness’; which is caused by an ill-functioning spleen and liver.
Cupping is a suction-based therapy, and it helps to remove damp stagnation from the body. This is followed by a rupturing of stubborn fat, which is subsequently flushed out of the system.

Another method I tried was using the Yangsen slimming belt. I tried that in 2019, I went down from 80+ to about 77kg or 76kg. Basically what one had to do is you have to put on the belt with herbal pack twice a day. But there's a strict regimen to follow which made it difficult for me coz mornings

The almost military-like regime :

Belt time : 5am - 7am

And you're suppose to clear bowel. Wait and weigh yourself n record, replenish warm water then only after half an hour later you can start on the belt for half an hour

Breakfast : by 9am

Breakfast /drinking can be done one hour after heat pack 

Replenish water : 11am

Lunch  : 11am - 1pm

Replenish water : 2pm

Fruit time : 3pm - 4pm

Replenish water : 5pm

Dinner : 5pm - 7pm

Belt time : 9pm - 11pm

* Things to note *

Before heat pack make sure hair is blown dry. If after herb pack, you must wait one hour before you can shower

 

Breakfast (by 9am)

1. 1 hard boiled egg + milk/yoghurt/soya bean milk

2. 1 - 2 meat buns / 5 dumplings

3. 2 hard boiled eggs

4. 2 pieces of 100% wholemeal bread

*Points to note*

1. Only hard boiled egg can be taken together with drinks like milk, yoghurt, soya bean milk

2. No fried food or food difficult to digest

3. 80% full for breakfast only

Remember to take your breakfast, hard boiled egg is the most nutritious!

*Lunch: 11am - 1pm*

1. Chicken/ duck/ fish/ or other meat + vegetable+ rice

2. With both meat and vegetables, full nutritional coverage

*Points to note*

1. Food just to be enough, not to be too full. 70% full is the best

2. Separate dry and wet. No water or soup with food. 

3. Do not purposely cut diet intake vigorously

*Fruits Time: 3pm - 4pm*

Any 1 kind: Apple, Kiwi, dragon fruit, papaya, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, etc

Avoid fruits that are high in sugar like grapes, durian, coconut, orange, water melon, honey dew.

*Dinner: 5pm - 7pm*

1. Fried or boiled green vegetables except chives

2. Boiled cabbage (can put a bit of salt)

3. Apple

4. Yoghurt 

5. 5 dumplings without soup

6. One tomato or cucumber 

7. Tomato + one hard boiled egg

*Note:*

Dinner to be 50% full

*After 7pm:*

No food or water after 7pm, to avoid fats accumulate in our body.

*Why we eat food without soup or only drink water 1 hour after food?*

Because straight after food, we drink water, actually not good for body

Stomach will become greater size

Nutrients from food will not absorb well by our body with the presence of water intake.

*If we are thirsty after food:*

We can gargle our mouth and spill out the water for a few times

Brush our teeth

Drink 1-2 mouth of water

Use a water spray and spray water into the mouth 1-2 times.

   

Got to do this and that. As if I have nothing to do except to laze around. 

Mornings are quite challenging as I have to prepare breakfast for the girls and send them to school if hubby can't do it. So when I get I return back home, it's an hour later. Then if I'm thirsty I need to make sure there's an hour break in between meal and drink. Shower also troublesome. I don't have to pick kids up from school? I don't have to do housework? Does it mean even if I'm outside, I need to be like clockwork?         

True no matter what treatment salons offer us, it's still diet that is important 

That got me intrigued on what is keto and I start reading a little. That's when I realised that although I claim I cut down on carbs, I'm not exactly cutting it down but topping it up more. Cakes, biscuits, Milo, bread, noodles and so many more are filled with high carbs!

Anyway, will still continue to find time to read up on this. I think I shall give this a try next year.